introducing short, speedier bursts into your normal easy runs. Here’s a sample session for running a faster 5K: after an easy warm-up, run at your intended race pace for one or two minutes, followed by two to three minutes of easy running. Start by adding two

this way and that in a mad, child-waking mazurka.He stared at me intently from his customary place on the sorry, mud-encrusted hulk that used to be our Art Nouveau chaise longue.As casually as I could, I buckled on my sports watch.His ears pricked up

likely to suffer if you fall out of a window while you're drunk or if you're still trussed up and tied to a tree in the middle of nowhere when the race is due to start. – VelociraptorWear St George kneepadsYou might be risking a twisted ankle, or some

blow when she was diagnosed with arthritis. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise - she was encouraged to take up light exercise to alleviate the symptoms. "My doctor told me I couldn’t run but I was really insistent that I wanted to," she says

to pick up the pace at Mile 20 in any case. But suddenly, everything ground to a halt. The road narrowed and everybody seemed to be walking. By the time I reached the next mile marker, I was four minutes down. I knew I wouldn’t be able to claw it back. I

Come February, the working week offers two equally miserable choices: run in darkness when you get up in the morning; run in darkness when you get home at night. However, you can turn this lose-lose into a victory by training in your lunch hour

just didn't want to risk blowing up. All the race-time predictors come up with crazy marathon targets based on my performance, but whatever they say, sub-4:00 is still my aim. In previous marathons, my speed has dropped off significantly as the race

is already doing 12 - 15 miles a week) Race day Lucy says: When I’m in a tough situation I like to come up with three words to sum it up. Sunday’s are: mortified, frustrated but unbowed.I knew it was going

to look inside yourself and ask why.Generally, if you can't motivate yourself, you won't stay motivated for very long. danowat Join the thread Marathon mass Has anyone else put on weight after taking up running, or is it just me

of bed. I’ve tried countless times but just always end up snoozing the alarm! – SazzlerOnce you do crack it you can't stop. I had to stop running for a few weeks, and now I can't make myself get up early (6am) for a run. – Man of SteelIt's a habit, like